Dr. Rachel Hitt on Delivering Difficult News with Compassion

Can clinicians deliver life-changing news with compassion without sacrificing time or their own well-being?

Dr. Rachel Hitt returned with a masterclass in patient communication. Compassionate communication eases anxiety and builds loyalty, even in a system that pressures doctors to move fast.

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Originally aired October 23, 2025 as Episode 158 of The Trusted Guide Podcast (then The Delighted Customers Podcast).

What we cover

• Why compassionate communication matters for patients and outcomes

• Productivity pressures and compassion fatigue

• Practical approaches that respect patients and clinicians

Compassion and efficiency can coexist

Rachel shows that caring communication doesn't have to take longer. The lessons apply to any difficult conversation.

Related episodes

• Episode 95: Dr. Rachel Hitt on Improving the Patient Experience Through Effective Communication

• Episode 162: Compassionomics in Action with Dr. Stephen Trzeciak

About the guest

At the time of this episode, Dr. Rachel Hitt was Chief of Breast Imaging at Tufts Medical Center and Medical Director of Patient Experience for Tufts Medicine Integrated Network.

If this conversation was useful, you'll find more like it in The Trusted Guide Newsletter: practical insights on trust, influence, and leading change.